Double nickels, 55!
It’s my birthday, let me do what I want, exclaimed Meg!
I said don’t do it, you might regret it! Remember San Francisco, I said emphatically. (Links to see what transpired in San Francisco are below)
Did she listen to me? No! She did it again! She drove Big Blue into the heart of Chicago, “let me see if I can find parking near Millennium Park”.
We begin our journey by being in bumper to bumper traffic on a highway, it’s the Friday exodus, yay. Hey let’s try surface streets and leave this traffic, said Mendy. And thus began the quest for Chicago, beautiful neighborhoods, narrow streets, crowded sidewalks and intersections. No we can’t go that way, the rail bridge is too low…recalculating. There, to the left, clearance is 13’ 0”, that way!
Alright, now we are moving… right into more bumper to bumper traffic, south bound on 41, spectacular view by the way! But I digress. We finally turn right into the park on Randolph, beautiful skyline! Oops did it again. Turn left on Michigan, it’s to the left, what is? The bean Meg exclaims, and the parking! We circle back, no parking big enough for Big Blue.
That’s it I’m finding an open lot and taking two spots, Mendy concurs and I protest, someone has to be an adult, right!? We turn right and right again, there’s a lot, ask the attendant.
“…No you can’t park in the lot”, yes I thought, vindicated!
“…but you can park on the street, just pay double.”
Oh the look I got from Meg and the smug smile on her face. My response, well it was very mature… I pouted, like a toddler.
Meg pulls up to the curb and maneuvered Big Blue parallel to two giant planters. Allowing my lift to clear them. Captain Intrepid has done it again!
We begin our walk to the park, well they walked and I rolled, with river in tow. River did fantastic, but got a bit overwhelmed with the crowds.
We waited in line to get in the park, security. Only to find out no dog’s allowed, Meg was pissed! But what can you do. Mendy and I stayed at the entrance with River, allowing Meg to check off her bucket list. She returned a bit later, and wanted us to go in. We’re good, we both said. We strolled a short distance further and wouldn’t you know…the Bean is visible from our vantage point! Meg was both upset and elated, upset because she waited in line, but elated that we saw it also. Overall it was a great visit and Big Blue was still there when we got back.
We capped off the evening with authentic Chicago deep dish pizza…and wine. Happy birthday my love!
J Reyes
Road Tripping With ALS 
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